Huperzine A helped put me on the path to being diagnosed with MG

Note: This column describes the author’s own experiences with the dietary supplement huperzine A. Not everyone will have the same response to it. Consult your doctor before starting or stopping a therapy.

Before I got my diagnosis of myasthenia gravis (MG), I had a whole lot of questions and not a lot of answers. I knew something was wrong: My legs were weaker and fatigued easier than they ever had, which required me to use a wheelchair; I would choke on spit and my food; and my voice would go hoarse. And then my right eyelid started to droop.

That droop wasn’t just cosmetic or a reason to embrace my inner pirate by covering it with an eye patch. It felt like a neon sign flashing that something’s not right here. It became the trigger that made me push harder for a diagnosis and better treatment. But between the appointments, tests, and “maybe it’s this” conversations with doctors, there was still a lot of waiting.

And if you know me, you know I don’t just sit around twiddling my thumbs. I research. I experiment (safely). I advocate for myself.

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On the road to a diagnosis

Somewhere in my late-night rabbit hole of symptom sleuthing, I stumbled across huperzine A. It’s a compound extracted from Chinese club moss and, while it’s often marketed for memory and cognitive support, it also has another interesting effect — it slows the breakdown of acetylcholine, the chemical messenger that helps nerves talk to muscles. I now know that’s the same pathway that Mestinon (pyridostigmine bromide) works on, and Mestinon is often a first-line treatment for MG.

So, I tried it.

Did it magically fix everything? Nope. But I did notice some improvement. My eyelid didn’t droop quite as much and it even helped reverse the droop within 30 minutes of taking it. My voice held steady a little longer. I still tired easily, but the difference was enough for me to go to my ophthalmologist and say, “Hey, this makes me think my symptoms are connected to acetylcholine. Can we explore that?”

That little experiment mattered. My doctor listened, and my response to huperzine A helped them make a working diagnosis while we waited for the test results. Eventually, I was prescribed Mestinon and, let me tell you, the difference between the supplement and the medication was like night and day. Mestinon gave me a level of relief huperzine A just couldn’t match.

But I don’t regret trying it, and I’ll tell you why. Huperzine A gave me a clue. My partial improvement pointed my doctor in the right direction. It kept me involved. While I waited for the medical system to catch up, I felt like I was doing something. It helped me advocate. I had tangible results to share with my doctor, which strengthened my case.

Would I recommend huperzine A to everyone with possible MG? Not without a doctor’s input. It’s not a replacement for Mestinon or other prescribed treatments and it can have side effects or interactions. But for me, it was a stepping stone, one that started with a drooping eyelid and ended with a clearer path forward.

Sometimes the road to a diagnosis isn’t a straight one. It’s a series of small clues, self-advocacy, and being willing to say, “I noticed this. Can we talk about it?” For me, huperzine A was one of those clues, and I’m grateful it helped light the way.

Note: Myasthenia Gravis News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Myasthenia Gravis News or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to myasthenia gravis.